Aged just 13, Thomas Carrick was placed under covert surveillance by the Australian Federal Police and lured into online conversations with them, posing as fake ISIS operatives. Ultimately, he was charged with terrorism offences. The most powerful intelligence agencies in the country knew Thomas had a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, and lived with an intellectual disability. Yet undercover operatives continued to engage with him in what a judge later described as ‘grooming’ for terrorist activities.

But was Thomas ever truly dangerous… or simply a vulnerable boy, lost in a make-believe world crafted by highly trained police?

In this episode, counter-terrorism expert Peta Lowe takes us inside the Thomas Carrick case, and reveals what it tells us about the rising threat of youth radicalisation in Australia.

You can also hear Peta in Secrets We Keep: Lone Actor.

This episode references extremist ideology and violent crime. If you need assistance, contact LifeLine on 13 11 14. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.